English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

Etymology — The origins of English words

Where do words come from? Trace the origin and history of any English word, from its Latin, Greek or Old English roots through to its modern meaning. Every etymology is sourced.

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From Anglo-Norman a part, from Latin ad partem, literally "to the side."

From American Spanish apache, likely borrowed from a Zuni word for "enemy" or a Yavapai word meaning "people."

From Greek anthrōpos ("human being") plus -logia ("study of") — literally "the study of humankind."

From aorta + the adjective ending -ic.

From any + way.

From Middle English eny on, ony one. By surface analysis, any + one.

A combination of "any" + "how," originally meaning "in whatever way."

From Middle English ani-bodi, anybodi, eny body. By surface analysis, any + body.

From Latin anxius, from angere ("to choke, cause pain") — the same root gives us "anger" and "anguish."

From Latin anxietas, from anxius ("troubled, distressed"), ultimately from a root meaning "to choke" — the same root behind "anguish" and "anger."

From Latin antiquitas, built on antiquus ("ancient"), the same root as antique.

From Greek antidoton, "given against" — a clipped form of a phrase meaning "medicine given as a countermeasure."

From Latin anticipare, "to take beforehand," from ante- ("before") and capere ("to take").

Formed from anthropology plus the "-ist" ending, marking a person who practises it.

From Latin ante, meaning "before" — the money goes in before the hand is played.

From antagonist plus the adjective suffix -ic.

From answer plus the adjective suffix -able.

From Middle English another, formed from an ("a, an") plus other.

From Old English on ("in") plus an ("one"), literally "in one (moment)."

From Old French enoint, past participle of enoindre, "to anoint."

From Old French anoiance, built on the verb annoy plus the noun suffix -ance.

Formed from annoy plus the adjective-forming suffix -ing.

From French annoncement, built from announce plus the noun-forming suffix -ment.

From Old French anoncier, from Latin annuntiare, from ad- ("to") + nuntius ("messenger").